DECATUR – Commissioners and township trustees gathered under the hot afternoon sun Friday, discussing current and future water line projects.

Monday, July 23, 2001

DECATUR – Commissioners and township trustees gathered under the hot afternoon sun Friday, discussing current and future water line projects.

"People are without water again now," Decatur Township trustee president Garold Cox told commissioners Paul Herrell and Jason Stephens. "And a lot of the water we’ve got (from wells) is sulfur water."

Other trustees and residents stood with them in front of hundreds of water pipes piled nearby, waiting for installation by Hecla Water.

Hecla and the county are working together on a water grant project that will bring water service to about 200 people. The county was awarded about $600,000 in grant money in 1999 to match Hecla Water Association money. Hecla had to meet EPA guidelines by digging another well, which has been completed.

Some residents, like those along Sharp’s Creek, have service now, while those along the Ohio 93 portion of the project can expect water line installation by Thanksgiving.

Tim Dalton, engineer and project manager said the project is under way and workers are currently installing water taps in three areas: White Oak, Fox Hollow and Prickley Ash. He said work on State Route 93 slated for later this summer.

In Decatur on Friday, Cox said the township needs the process speeded along because people are still having to haul water.

"We’ve waited on it for two years and now there’s more paperwork delays," he said, but added that the pipe was delivered about a month ago.

"We’re happy to see it, but we’d be happier to see it in the ground."

Herrell said he thought work was supposed to start about two weeks ago, and said the commissioners will ask about the situation.

"You’re certainly in need of water bad and we will push all we can," he said.

James Norris, who lives on Ohio 93 near the 18-mile marker, said if it weren’t for his hauling drinking water from his son’s home, he would be paying probably $50 to $75 a load.

Everybody’s been talking about it since the late 1990s, Norris said.

"We need the water lines," he said.

Some water line work began in November last year. In May, county officials reported on the status of the entire grant project, using information from Hecla. Status at that time:

– Hecla has added one well and has a well in progress.

– Water lines are in service on County Road 19 (Sharp’s Creek Road).

– Water lines are installed on County Road 25 (White Oak).

– Water lines are being installed on Township Road 155-E (Fox Hollow-Prickly Ash).

– The Ohio 93 portion of the project (to the foot of Telegraph Hill, Township Road 258, T-166 and T-207) should be completed by Thanksgiving.

Also Friday, trustees showed commissioners other Decatur areas where water is needed, such as County Road 41, County Road 34, County Road 14, where roads split near waterlines and other areas.

Herrell said water lines depend on outside funding since the county can rarely afford entire projects, however, the county will consider the requests, he said.